Pasadena Unified School District officials Thursday were moving toward potential school consolidations as an advisory committee prepares to finalize recommendations ahead of public hearings and a June board vote.
The School Consolidation Advisory Committee is expected to complete its proposals before hearings scheduled for May 28 and June 11, with any approved changes taking effect in the 2027-28 school year.
For TK through eighth grade, recommended closures include Don Benito Fundamental School, Webster Elementary and Norma Coombs Elementary. McKinley School and Eliot Arts Magnet would merge under the proposal, with the McKinley campus closing.
At the high school level, the committee has recommended consolidating Thurgood Marshall Secondary School and Blair High School.
At a town hall Tuesday at Pasadena High School, parents criticized the process, citing concerns about data accuracy, transparency and the timeline, according to Pasadena Now.
During about an hour of public comment, speakers questioned the role of consultant Total School Solutions and its representative, Joseph Pandolfo, as well as the absence of the full school board.
“Board here? Is anyone from the board here?” parent Kate Nixa said, drawing attention to empty seats while thanking members who attended.
According to the community news website, several parents said the data used by the committee was flawed and that members were given limited time to review materials before voting.
Parents also raised concerns about the district’s financial assumptions, saying projected savings of roughly $500,000 to $700,000 per elementary school would do little to address an estimated $30 million budget deficit, according to the news outlet.
Others pointed to the board’s approval of $128 million to rebuild San Rafael Elementary, questioning equity and funding priorities.
Pandolfo defended the process, saying it is “100% committed to transparency” and driven by declining enrollment, the news website said. He said school closures typically generate several hundred thousand dollars in savings per campus.
The school board is scheduled to vote on the recommendations June 25.